Woollahra councillors support carparking sanction against Russian consulate in Sydney

A local council has used its power to hit the Russian Consulate in Sydney where it hurts in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

A local council has taken steps to strip the Russian Consulate in Sydney of its dedicated street car parking spaces in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Woollahra councillors have unanimously backed a plan to change the parking restrictions outside the consulate headquarters on leafy Fullerton St, which currently grants consular staff exclusive use of three parking spaces.

The carparking sanction, voted through at a recent council meeting, would mean the exclusive spaces would be made public for the wider community to use.

Woollahra councillors, Nicola Grieve and Matthew Robertson, supported removing the parking restrictions. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Sarah Swan, one of two councillors who put forward the proposal, said the parking changes would represent a sign of solidarity with Ukraine.

“As a council we must do more than merely condemn through statements – we must take action against the Russian government,” she told the meeting.

“The rules of warfare do not apply to Russian modus operandi in the same way the rules of warfare did not apply to the Germans.

“We’re all abreast of parking issues in Woollahra and there’s no reason consular staff who form part of the Russian government should be afforded the privilege of parking in these designated zones in these circumstances.

A photo of the current parking restrictions.

“It may appear (removing the restrictions) is minor in comparison to the atrocities of the Russian government (but) we must do all we can to show opposition, not just merely make statements.”

The current parking restrictions on the street are currently signposted with notices warning motorists: ‘No Stopping Diplomatic and Consular Vehicles Excepted’.

A report to next month’s local traffic committee, which will vote on removing the restrictions, stated the current arrangements “are not well used” by the consulate and should be returned to public use.

Ms Swan stressed the proposal was not about targeting Russian-Australians, particularly those living in the eastern suburbs.

A photo of the consulate in Woollahra.

Latest Census data from 2016 showed the Woollahra Council area is home to 1026 people with Russian ancestry – equating to one in almost 50 residents in the local government area.

“We support our Russian community and this proposal is in no way a slight against them – this is squarely directly against the Russian government and the atrocities it has committed,” she said.

“Their actions have been opposed by many Russians globally and in our own community.”

The parking changes have been supported by the Ukrainian Consulate in Sydney with honorary consul Jaroslav Duma saying “any sign of solidarity was welcome”.

“From my position we’ve been pushing the Australian government to expel the Russian diplomatic and consular staff because of their atrocities in Ukraine,” he said.

A photo of Ukrainian refugees crossing the Ukrainian-Romanian border.

From a parking perspective – it’s a very interesting question if it will have an impact but if it in any way hinders their operations that’s most welcome.”

Councillor Nicola Grieve, who also supported the proposal, said “we can’t do very much as local government, but roads are the one the thing we do have control of”.

Will Berry, who lives and runs a business on Fullerton St, said he was not convinced the parking changes would have a major impact on the consulate.

“When you look at what’s been happening globally there have been far more severe punishments and sanctions than taking away street parking,” he said.

“I think it would only be a minor inconvenience for the consulate. But overall I think it’s a fair decision.”

The consulate general is a state authority for foreign relations of the Russia with an aim to further the development of commercial, economic and cultural relations between Russia and Australia.

The Russian Consulate in Sydney and the Russian Embassy were contacted for comment about the council’s decision but did not respond at the time of publication.